Christine Durkin

As a kid growing up in the outskirts of a small Wisconsin town, summers were long and lonely, with most times spent on my own. I found a wonderful escape from that loneliness through books. Many, many books. What I learned from these books opened my eyes to an entirely different world, and I wanted to be a part of that world. As an adult, I set out to make a place for myself, and a good life for my two children. I was fortunate enough to be offered an advertising job with a small local newspaper. Here, I wrote copy for ads that would entice customers to buy. This opportunity was life-changing. It was the catalyst for a fascinating advertising career in the 'big city' of Chicago. It was then that I knew I was home. I'm grateful however, for those long, lonely summer months. Heading outdoors each day, I could explore the the marshes, blueberry bogs, railroad bridges, ponds and creeks. It was here that I got to know the frogs, turtles, toads and snakes that I came to adore. This is the inspiration for my story.